Translation guide
The English verb 'mourn' covers expressing grief over a death, feeling deep sadness about a loss, and sometimes formal or public displays of sorrow. Japanese expresses these ideas through different verbs, nouns, and phrases depending on the context, relationship, and formality.
Expressing personal sorrow and grief after someone has died.
The most direct verb for mourning a person's death. It implies heartfelt grief and is used in both personal and formal contexts.
彼は友人の死を悼んだ。
He mourned the death of his friend.
私たちは犠牲者を悼みます。
We mourn the victims.
Literally 'to be lost in sorrow,' this phrase describes being deeply immersed in grief, often for a prolonged period.
彼女は夫を亡くして悲しみに暮れている。
She is mourning the loss of her husband, lost in grief.
A formal, often written verb meaning to express condolences or mourn. Used in official statements or news.
政府は哀悼の意を表した。
The government expressed its mourning/condolences.
Offering sympathy to someone who has lost a loved one, often in a set phrase.
The standard polite expression of condolence. Used when speaking or writing to the bereaved.
心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。
Please accept my heartfelt condolences.
A common condolence phrase, slightly less formal than お悔やみ申し上げます. Often used at funerals.
この度はご愁傷様です。
My condolences on your loss.
Feeling or expressing sadness about a non-death loss, such as the end of an era, failure, or missed opportunity.
To lament, grieve, or deplore. Used for both personal and societal losses, not limited to death.
彼は自分の不運を嘆いた。
He mourned his misfortune.
人々は平和の崩壊を嘆いた。
People mourned the collapse of peace.
To regret or feel the loss of something valuable. Often used for missed chances or the passing of time.
Participating in or observing customs related to death, such as wearing black or holding a memorial.
To be in mourning, observing traditional mourning practices like wearing dark clothes and avoiding celebrations.
彼女は喪に服している。
She is in mourning.
To hold a memorial or pay tribute to the deceased, often in a public or organized way.
式典で犠牲者を追悼した。
They mourned the victims at the ceremony.
悼む (いたむ) is specifically for mourning a death, while 嘆く (なげく) is broader and can mean lamenting any unfortunate situation. Use 悼む for personal grief over a person's passing, and 嘆く for deploring a state of affairs.
Avoid directly translating 'I mourn...' as 私は...を悼む in casual conversation; it can sound overly dramatic or literary. In everyday speech, Japanese speakers often use phrases like 悲しんでいる (I am sad) or 残念に思う (I feel regret) instead.
He mourned the passing of summer.